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PERMACULTURE COSTA RICA

Are you interested in the topic of sustainability and sustainable fruit and vegetable cultivation? Do you care about sustainability and the protection of our environment? Would you like to become part of a unique community and live together with people from all over the world in harmony with nature on a farm? Then get to know our permaculture farm in Costa Rica! The farm is located in the green jungle on the beautiful Caribbean coast of the country, not far from one of the hippest places in the country: Puerto Viejo!

The farm grows regional food according to the concept of permaculture and tries to live only from its own resources. Help plant and harvest the fruits and vegetables and assist in the maintenance and development of the farm. A real nature experience for all nature and out-door fans is waiting for you! Experience the relaxed Caribbean feeling in your free time and enjoy the dream beaches with clear water and palm trees.

Are you interested in the topic of sustainability and sustainable fruit and vegetable cultivation? Do you care about sustainability and the protection of our environment? Would you like to become part of a unique community and live together with people from all over the world in harmony with nature on a farm? Then get to know our permaculture farm in Costa Rica! The farm is located in the green jungle on the beautiful Caribbean coast of the country, not far from one of the hippest places in the country: Puerto Viejo!

QUICK FACTS

Type of program

Program location

Working hours

Program start

Duration

Minimum age

Language

Requirements

Accommodation

Meals

Support

Internet

Price

Permaculture Farm

Puerto Viejo, Limón, Costa Rica

5-6 hours per day, 5 days per week

Every 1st Saturday of the month

1-3 months

18 years

English or Spanish

Interest in sustainability and farming

Single or shared room on the farm

3 meals per day included

English-speaking contact person via WhatsApp

Mobile internet with sim card from WanderWorld Travel

From 900,00 €

QUICK FACTS

Type of program: Permaculture Farm

Program location: Puerto Viejo, Limón, Costa Rica

Working hours: 5-6 hours per day, 5 days per week

Program start: Every 1st Saturday of the month

Duration: 1-3 months

Minimum age: 18 years

Language: English or Spanish

Requirements: Interest in sustainability and cultivation

Accommodation: Single or shared rooms on the farm

Meals: 3 meals per day

Support: English-speaking contact person via WhatsApp

Internet: Mobile internet with sim card from WanderWorld Travel

Price: from 900,00 €

Freiwillige helfen in der Permaculture in Costa Rica
Außenbereich der Permaculture in Costa Rica

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Grünanlage der Permaculture in Costa Rica
Außenbereich der Permaculture in Costa Rica

The farm at the dream place Puerto Viejo has a 45 hectares large property in the middle of the tropical rainforest. It is located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and is only a few kilometers from the border to Panama. The permaculture farm lives practically self-sufficiently and independently from the farm’s own resources. It houses rainforest areas, fruit trees, vegetable beds and several animals. There are many small streams, beautiful hiking trails and all kinds of things to discover on the grounds.

About 20% of the farm is pristine rainforest and a full 50% of the area has been reforested by the staff. About 20 years ago, many fertile areas of rainforest in the area around Puerto Viejo were cut down and used for economic purposes, including huge areas of cultivation for bananas or palm oil, which are exported all over the world. The farm’s mission is to regenerate and reforest areas, as well as to show that it works without harmful monoculture. Thus, the concept of the farm was born: permaculture combined with self-sufficiency, sustainability and environmental protection.

The farm is particularly concerned with the harmony between man, nature and animals. The existing natural resources should be used in the best possible way without harming nature or animals. Likewise, the food is grown according to the concept of regenerative agriculture.

Freiwillige machen Sport in der Permaculture in Costa Rica
Außenbereich der Permaculture Freiwillige fotografiert Sonnenblume
Freiwillige läuft durch Wasser in der Permaculture in Costa Rica

An eco-project of the farm is, for example, the water supply. It is provided either by rainwater or the river. There are several tanks that collect and filter the rainwater so that it can be used for watering, showering, washing and for the animals.

The farm is also completely self-sufficient in terms of electricity. It is not connected to the power grid, but obtains electricity via solar energy. This is sufficient for lighting in the house, for charging cell phones and for kitchen appliances.

This project is not only about the farm work, but also about the community of people, volunteers and staff living on the farm. Everyone should benefit from each other, support each other and learn more about nature and environmental protection together. The community on the farm is very familiar, they eat and cook together every day, and of course they sit around the campfire and chat until late at night.

Freiwillige machen sauber in der Permaculture in Costa Rica
Freiwillige sitzen zusammen und essen in der Permaculture in Costa Rica

You will share your new home not only with the inhabitants of the farm, but also with dogs, horses, cats, sheep and chickens. When you live in the middle of nature, many other animals like ants, frogs, snakes, spiders and insects will cross your path. So you should feel like having a real nature experience and preferably spend the whole day outside. During your stay at the farm you will not only learn everything about the exciting food cultivation and nature of Costa Rica, but also a lot about yourself.

Freiwillige entspannen nachts vor dem Lagerfeuer in der Permaculture in Costa Rica
zwei Katzen kuscheln in der Decke in der Permaculture in Costa Rica

TASKS

Freiwillige laufen im Außenbereich der Permaculture in Costa Rica
der Außenbereich Permaculture in Costa Rica von oben aus Drohnen Perspektive

On the farm you have many different opportunities to get involved. The focus is on the community and learning together about permaculture and sustainable agriculture. First and foremost, you should have a great time and gain a lot of knowledge and experience during your volunteer work.

The main task on the farm is of course gardening, i.e. planting, caring, harvesting, fertilizing and watering the vegetable and fruit plants on the whole farm area. You should enjoy gardening and like to get your hands dirty. This includes spreading the compost and organic fertilizer and digging up soil. You can be there every step of the way from A to Z, and in the end, it’s all the more rewarding to hold in your hands the harvest you worked for.

Of course, not only the plants and trees need to be taken care of, but also the farm’s own animals. Help provide food and water for the many animal inhabitants. Whether cats, dogs, horses, chickens or other animals, all must be lovingly cared for and maintained. Of course, a play and petting session may not be missing.

In addition to gardening, you can assist in the maintenance of the farm and give free rein to your creativity. All natural resources such as leaves, hay, coconut shells and much more will be used in decoration, garden beds and paths. The houses, paths and signs need to be regularly checked and possibly repaired, as it rains very often in the region. While this is happening, you can explore the hiking trails and the breathtaking rainforest. You won’t get bored with the numerous rivers, waterfalls, exotic flowers and lagoons for swimming. You can also show your handicraft talent by helping to build wooden benches and raised beds or by implementing your own ideas. The staff is always happy to have volunteers help beautify the farm.

Also, give the team a hand with making the compost. The compost is made from food scraps, animal manure, leaves and grasses and then used for the vegetable beds and fruit trees. Every hand is needed in the laborious process of making it, especially in spreading the compost. Equally hard work is the mulching and digging, but as a team it is great fun.

The permaculture farm always wants to develop itself and strives for new ideas. New eco-projects are always coming up, such as supplying its own water and electricity. You are welcome to contribute your own ideas to improve sustainability and togetherness.

Regenwald von oben aus Drohnen Perspektive
Außenbereich der Permaculture in Costa Rica

PUERTO VIEJO

Puerto Viejo is one of the trendiest and hippest places in the whole country. The region is well known for its crystal clear waters, Caribbean flair and tropical nature. Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast is located in the southeast of Costa Rica and is just a stone’s throw away from Panama. When you arrive, the best way to discover the colorful surroundings is by bike. This way you will not only find the best restaurants and souvenir stores, but you can also explore the varied coasts in the immediate surroundings.

The Caribbean coast has a huge variety of species, whether on land or in the water. There you will have the opportunity to meet rare animals such as sloths, exotic birds and fish, as well as monkeys, iguanas and snakes.

One of the most beautiful beaches in the whole country is located just a few kilometers from Puerto Viejo in the Manzanillo National Park. The sky blue waters and pristine nature are breathtaking. The beach is very quiet and there are few waves. You don’t even have to take a boat to go snorkeling, you can already observe beautiful fish in the crystal clear and shallow waters. Also only a few kilometers away from the farm you will find the small town of Cahuita. In the national park with the same name you can explore nature on wooden walkways and swim in the crystal clear water. Cahuita also has a strong Afro-Caribbean culture with many different nationalities.

Not only the flair, but also the cuisine in the Caribbean region differs from the rest of the country, it is spicier and a lot is cooked with coconut milk. Typical Caribbean food is rice and beans with fish, which you should definitely try.

In the Caribbean it rains regularly throughout the year, so everything is beautifully green. However, there are only 2 months of dry season in the year: September and October. Temperatures are between 30 and 35 degrees during the day and around 25 at night.

Außenbereiche in der Permaculture in Costa Rica
bunter Vogel sitzt auf Ast in der Permaculture in Costa Rica

What is permaculture?

The principle of permaculture has been around since the 1970s. The concept of permaculture was shaped by Bruce Charles Mollison and his student David Holmgren. During their stay with Australian aborigines, they learned about respectful interaction with nature. Mindfulness, natural cycles and preservation of natural resources are the most important lessons that come into play in a permaculture.

The term “permaculture” is a combination of the English words “permanent”, in the sense of sustainable, and “agriculture” for farming. It is a planning and design method for agriculture that is intended to enable survival in harmony with nature. The focus is on the multiple functions of individual elements and a recirculating system.

Permaculture as a design practice is rooted in a deep understanding of the relationships of living things to each other and to their living and non-living environment. It is about recognizing the underlying repetitions and variations – so-called patterns – in these ecological relationships. They form the base for sustainable development.

The goal of permaculture is to develop and maintain interconnected, multifunctional and sustainable ecosystems that are modeled on nature. Self-regulating ecosystems such as forests, wetlands and floodplains count as models.

The principle of permaculture is built on three ethical principles:

  • “Care for the earth!”
  • “Care for the people”
  • “Fair share”

Permaculture also refers not only to gardening and farming, but strives for a regional and completely self-generated food supply. The aim is to use existing resources efficiently, reduce energy use and reduce the consumption of consumer goods.

Permaculture can thus be applied to all areas of human activity, e.g. in the garden, in communities, in businesses and schools, in one’s own everyday life and personal lifestyle, in agriculture, in cities and in politics.

Freiwillige duschen unter Wasserfall in der Permaculture in Costa Rica
Bewachsener Baum in der Permaculture in Costa Rica

REQUIREMENTS

You do not need any special prerequisites for this project. You should be interested in environmental protection and sustainability and enjoy working with people. You should also be motivated to learn many new things and to get involved in the various tasks. Reliability, ability to work in a team and openness towards a new culture and other people from all over the world are very important for participation. Since the community on the farm lives very closely, you should enjoy living with other people and be open to all kinds of people.

LANGUAGE

The national language in Costa Rica is Spanish. You do not need to know Spanish to participate in the program. It is only required that you can speak English or Spanish to communicate with your colleagues and the leaders of the project.  We will gladly organize a language course for you, which you can attend parallel to the project.

ACCOMODATION

Mehrbettzimmer in der Unterkunft der Permaculture in Costa Rica
Unterkunft in der Permaculture in Costa Rica

You will live together with the staff and volunteers in shared rooms. Volunteers share a simple but cozy bungalow on the farm grounds in pairs or fours. A single room is possible for an extra charge if available. You will live amidst the wild nature and wake up every morning to the sound of birds singing in the open countryside.

There is also a rustic shared bathroom and composting toilets.

You can either do your laundry by hand on the farm or take it to a laundry service in the village.

Außenbereich in der Unterkunft der Permaculture in Costa Rica
Gemeinschaftsküche in der Unterkunft Permaculture in Costa Rica

MEALS

Three meals a day are included in the price. The staff and volunteers cook together every day. There is a kitchen schedule where team members take turns. You are expected to help with kitchen chores, cleaning and washing – everything that is part of living on the farm. Vegetarian meals are cooked mainly with fresh food from the farm.

Sanitäranlage in der Permaculture in Costa Rica
Gemeinschaftsküche in der Unterkunft in der Permaculture in Costa Rica
ausgewogenes Frühstück in der Permaculture in Costa Rica

YOUR CONTACT PERSON IN COSTA RICA

Lisa is German and emigrated to Costa Rica with her Costa Rican husband. Before that, she has visited the country a few times and therefore already knows very well about the culture, traditions and local conditions. After falling in love with the country and its people, she decided to live where others vacation. She speaks fluent Spanish as well as German and English. Lisa will be happy to welcome you in San José with her warm and funny nature and is eager to introduce you to her beautiful adopted country. As your local contact person, she will answer all your questions and you can always approach her if you need help. Lisa will take care of you during the introductory meeting in San José. For questions of any kind during your stay in Latin America, an English-speaking contact person is available via WhatsApp in the same time zone.

WanderWorld Mitarbeiter lächelt

SERVICES AND PRICES

Prices:

Single room:

  • 1st month in starter package: 990,00 €
  • Extension month: 450,00 €
  • As 2nd or 3rd program: 760,00 €

Shared room:

  • 1st month in starter package: 900,00 €
  • Extension month: 360,00 €
  • As 2nd or 3rd program: 670,00 €

Services:

Find out more about our services here.